Look what I found in my Inbox!

[Smurfette Principle]

I got one once when I was ten from a Russian widow. I knew it was a scam, but it was very odd.

[Nightangel8212]

I've actually gotten a few of them in the past, but the one I've posted is actually very well written compared to the other ones. Sadly, my mother almost fell for it once and I had to stop her from giving her credit card number to the guy....

[Osama bin Bambi]

I got one from Canada once, IIRC.

[Jack Bauer]

I once got one of the Irish Lottery scam ones... I played them along sending them retarded questions and setting up a meeting in their 'offices' in Dublin (an address that was an abandoned building). The actual scam was based on the ludicrous 'courier fee' that they charged for sending the certified cheque for my 'winnings' (€11,000,000 and some change) to my then address in England. Of course, the cheque could be collected in person (from this ficticious office), in which case there was no delivery fee, but a 'processing fee' of some €500.

Obviously I did not go to Dublin, but the day after the supposed meeting, I asked them what had happened to their office... They gave me a new address in Dublin and claimed that they had recently relocated and had been using email 'forms' that had not been updated.

It amazed me at how persistent these fuckers were. They even suggested I take out a loan to pay for the 'courier fee'!

One activity that gives me great amusement these days is to forward letters from Nigeria to email accounts from which I have recieved other letters from Nigeria. I gives me a nice warm feeling thinking that maybe these people would like to get together and have their own online community - into which a few fucks can occasionally be fired by concerned citizens.

[Ranger_Joe]

Be careful though, most Nigerian scams are just after your money, but some are setting you up for a kidnapping. Play with them all you like, but if they suggest a meeting, call the police.

Or, set up the meeting so you can completely fuck the would be kidnappers world over with some Grade A Ranger Skills. 

[Shane for Wax]

3) It's a Class E felony to pretend to be an officer of the military (at least the US military)

I guess if you're going to commit a felony, it might as well be a class E one.

Why go for the lowest rank? lol

...it was a pun. Class E = classy.

Steaaaalth pun.

[Nightangel8212]

Heh. I got another one in my inbox this morning, and this time the deal was for a measly million bucks... The idiots have the details of the deal in attachments, and I'm too scared of viruses to open it so I just deleted it lol

[MaybeNever]

3) It's a Class E felony to pretend to be an officer of the military (at least the US military)

I guess if you're going to commit a felony, it might as well be a class E one.

Why go for the lowest rank? lol

...it was a pun. Class E = classy.

Steaaaalth pun.

It's because of how class E I am.

[Art Vandelay]

I once got one of the Irish Lottery scam ones... I played them along sending them retarded questions and setting up a meeting in their 'offices' in Dublin (an address that was an abandoned building). The actual scam was based on the ludicrous 'courier fee' that they charged for sending the certified cheque for my 'winnings' (€11,000,000 and some change) to my then address in England. Of course, the cheque could be collected in person (from this ficticious office), in which case there was no delivery fee, but a 'processing fee' of some €500.

Obviously I did not go to Dublin, but the day after the supposed meeting, I asked them what had happened to their office... They gave me a new address in Dublin and claimed that they had recently relocated and had been using email 'forms' that had not been updated.

It amazed me at how persistent these fuckers were. They even suggested I take out a loan to pay for the 'courier fee'!

One activity that gives me great amusement these days is to forward letters from Nigeria to email accounts from which I have recieved other letters from Nigeria. I gives me a nice warm feeling thinking that maybe these people would like to get together and have their own online community - into which a few fucks can occasionally be fired by concerned citizens.

My grandfather always gets those things, and actually takes them seriously. The only reason he hasn't been suckered by one yet is because he doesn't know how to text (yay for stereotypes) and so always asks me to collect the supposed winnings for him whenever I'm around.

I swear, I've debunked three of the bloody things so far with nothing more than a google search of the name of the would-be lottery and he still takes them seriously.

[N. De Plume]

Oooh... that site looks like FUN! Now I'm thinking of contacting the guy and fucking with his head and making him think he's got a chance of scamming me...

You certainly should. As long as you don't give him any of your details, they can't touch you. Play your cards right, and you can make them do crazy shit like write out Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by hand.

It still amazes me the that these scammers would do all that. You would think they realize that there is something up.

My grandfather always gets those things, and actually takes them seriously. The only reason he hasn't been suckered by one yet is because he doesn't know how to text (yay for stereotypes) and so always asks me to collect the supposed winnings for him whenever I'm around.

I swear, I've debunked three of the bloody things so far with nothing more than a google search of the name of the would-be lottery and he still takes them seriously.

Wow. You keep taking care of him now.

[The Right Honourable Mlle Antéchrist]

Scam-baiting is definitely fun. You would be surprised as some of the shit you can get them to do while distracting them from preying on others.

[N. De Plume]

I sometimes wish I could do it. Unfortunately, I do not have a very good instinct for messing with people, even just as a lighthearted joke.

[Jack Bauer]

If something seems too good to be true, then the odds are is isn't true.

It amazes me how some people can believe that they have won a lottery for which they have not even bought tickets. Do they think that they have had some sort of stealth visit from the Lottery Ticket Fairy? Did their fairy godmother wave her magic wand (from which small glittery stars emanate)? Did their dog raid their wallet and go down to the store to purchase a lottery ticket?

[gyeonghwa]

I love getting scams and phishing emails just to see how stupid they are. Like this one (My comments in purple):

From: Telstra [Never heard of them]
Subject: BigPond ADSL Broadband Service Suspension [uh, I use AT&T]

Dear BigPond User, [you would think they'd bother to put my name]
Telstra BigPond is sending you this e-mail to inform you that our service to you could be suspended. [normally, you would send an email and a letter, possibly with a phone call] This might be due to either of the following reasons:

1. You have changed your billing address. [no]
2. You have Submitted [sic] incorrect information during bill payment process.[sic]
3. Your credit/debit card has expired. [It expires 2013. If I was using you, you'd know that]
4. You didnt [sic] update your bigpond [sic - consistency is key to making you sound real, ya know] profile.

According to above [sic], and to ensure that your service is not interrupted [seems like an odd interjection. Consider revising], we request [this relative clause should start with "that] you to confirm and update your billing information now
BY CLICKING HERE. [All CAPS that's really going to convince me to click!]

If you have already confirmed your billing information[,] then please disregard this message as we are processing the changes you have made.

Regards,
Telstra
Billing Department
Thanks for your co-operation.

Accounts Management As outlined in our User Agreement, Telstra (r) [why not ®?] will
periodically send you information about site changes and enhancements.

[Auri-El]

For those who set up "meetings" with these people, can't you notify the police and get at least one person/group stopped? I'm probably talking shit I know nothing about, but just wondering if there's really anything to be done besides just clicking delete.